Chapter Fifty: Nightmare

The elderly man in coarse robes was momentarily taken aback by these words, but then he chuckled to himself and asked in a low voice, “You’re quite an interesting one. Pray tell, in what way am I being insincere?”

The handsome young gentleman placed his hands behind his back and nodded toward Chen Jiu. “Hey! What do you think? Isn’t this old man a bit of a hypocrite?”

Chen Jiu groaned inwardly. Why involve me? Is he trying to drag me down with him because he can’t handle the situation himself?

He forced a sheepish smile, rose to his feet, and said, “This elder just saved a life before our very eyes. Perhaps you’d best say a little less, my friend.”

He then cupped his hands respectfully to the old man, intending to take his leave. He had no desire to offend this elder for no reason at all.

But after giving Chen Jiu a thoughtful once-over, the old man suddenly blocked his way.

His face flushed with healthy color, the elder smiled and asked, “Young master, I perceive your spiritual energy is rich and well-contained; surely you are at the cusp of a breakthrough, are you not?”

At these words, Chen Jiu’s heart skipped a beat, but he nodded.

The old man immediately extended his hand. “If you do not mind, allow me to take your pulse and sense the flow of energy within you. Perhaps I can discern how to break through your bottleneck.”

After a moment’s consideration, Chen Jiu saw no harm in it. If the elder could truly pinpoint the obstacle to his progress, it would be a valuable gift.

He stretched out his hand for the old man to take his pulse.

The handsome young gentleman’s expression shifted as he watched the old man’s every move with keen interest.

The elder’s features softened as he placed his hand upon Chen Jiu’s wrist, closing his eyes slightly in concentration.

Chen Jiu tensed, feeling the faint stir of spiritual energy within him. Fortunately, the old man did not probe his body with spiritual sense, relying only on his touch and intuition.

After a few breaths, the old man flicked his wrist and withdrew his hand.

He opened his eyes, pondered for a moment, then said, “Because your cultivation method differs from the norm, breaking through is much more difficult for you than for most. However, if you were to receive a swift influx of potent spiritual energy, you might be able to force the breakthrough.”

Chen Jiu committed these words to memory, but let out a wry smile. It seemed his inability to advance was indeed due to his chosen method.

He bowed to the old man. “Thank you, elder, for your guidance. I shall take my leave.”

Seeing that Chen Jiu was intent on departing, the old man narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “I happen to have some experience in overcoming such barriers. If you do not mind, why not join me for a chat this evening?”

A glimmer of anticipation appeared in Chen Jiu’s eyes. “Since you are willing to advise me, I would be honored to accept.”

The old man smiled as he passed by Chen Jiu. “Come to the ‘Spring Renewal Pavilion’ tonight and find me there.”

All those present watched the elder’s graceful departure, whispering among themselves; some from wealthy families even hurried after him.

Chen Jiu stood in place for several breaths before he too left the tavern.

He had agreed to the elder’s invitation partly out of a desire to hear the insights of a cultivator at the “Pill Embryo Stage,” and partly to rest and take advantage of the mixed crowd to inquire about affairs in Qingcheng County.

After the old man and Chen Jiu left the restaurant, the diners resumed their meals, discussing the recent events.

Meanwhile, the young gentleman named Su Jiu continued sipping his tea, his eyes full of amusement.

...

Chen Jiu casually found an inn in the village, paid a tael of silver, and arranged to stay for the night.

Seated cross-legged on the bed, with the window open and a cool evening breeze refreshing his mind, he grumbled inwardly, “What a rip-off—one night for a whole tael of silver?”

With that, he summoned his tiger spirit.

“Tiger Spirit!”

A golden light flashed from the celestial eye on his forehead and landed beside him on the bedding. This time, the tiger spirit was not its usual size, but had shrunk to that of a tiger cub, its form controlled by Chen Jiu’s spiritual will.

“It’s your turn to stand guard,” Chen Jiu instructed, settling himself to cultivate before seeking out the old man.

Obeying, the tiger cub gave Chen Jiu a glance, then leapt onto the windowsill, ears twitching as it settled down to doze.

Unnoticed, night deepened outside, and cool gusts swept through the room.

Suddenly, the tiger spirit lifted its head alertly and turned sharply toward Chen Jiu.

It had sensed a faint trace of demonic energy emanating from Chen Jiu!

With a low growl, it braced itself to attack.

But Chen Jiu’s expression did not change; he seemed oblivious, wholly absorbed in his cultivation.

...

His head throbbed.

Chen Jiu’s eyes flew open.

But before him stood a great mountain.

He was at the foot of it, its slopes wreathed in mist, the first light of dawn just breaking.

As the distant crow of roosters echoed through the mountains, he frowned.

What was this? Was he dreaming?

The calls of birds and the incessant chirring of insects in the woods made everything feel uncannily real.

A stone path paved with blue flagstones led up the mountain before him.

“Xuanyao Mountain...”

Staring at a stone stele inscribed with these words, Chen Jiu’s expression changed drastically.

How had he returned to Xuanyao Mountain?

He had spent months traveling beyond Xinyang and Jingyang Counties and was now in Qingcheng County!

“This must be a dream...”

He quickly decided to use a spell to try to wake himself.

But just then, the sky darkened abruptly, thunder booming as if a thousand storms were unleashed.

Rumbling filled the heavens.

Chen Jiu glanced up and was shocked.

The sky had split open!

Countless golden rays burst from the fissure, streaming down toward Xuanyao Mountain.

From one of these golden lights, a figure in splendid robes appeared.

“Daoist Chen Jiu of Xuanyao Temple, your celestial eye makes you unwelcome in Great Jin. By the order of the Chief of the Bureau of Public Welfare, I am here to eradicate the remnants like you!”

The voice was like a drum, reverberating through the world, striking every heart.

Chen Jiu saw his fellow disciples flee down the mountain in panic.

“Your Excellency, we are innocent!”

“This has nothing to do with us!”

But the figure in jade robes only sneered, “Kill them!”

A deafening crash.

Thick golden lightning, like a massive dragon, shot down from the clouds, engulfing Xuanyao Mountain in an instant!

Chen Jiu’s face went deathly pale as he watched his fellow disciples perish beneath the heavenly thunder, reduced to ashes in mere moments.

His whole body shook, eyes nearly bursting with rage.

“If you have a quarrel, come at me! My fellow disciples had nothing to do with this!”

They had been slaughtered solely because of the celestial eye on his brow.

But the figure in the sky ignored Chen Jiu’s protest, speaking coldly: “Li Fenglai, are you ready to accept your fate?”

Suddenly, a blood-drenched Daoist descended the scorched and stinking mountainside.

Li Fenglai’s hair was disheveled, his robes soaked in blood. He staggered down the stone path, sword hanging at his side.

“Jiu’er... why did you never tell your master that you bore the celestial eye...”